The Alternative to Shoring - Loss of Life

Written By Carmelle Isaac

The value of your life cannot be measured by any amount of money. Invest in yourself with things that cannot be taken away from you.

The alternative to EasyDig Shoring is no shoring protection which endangers humans.

 Another common alternative used is large excavation made with a backhoe, they may slope the edges, making it even bigger or use a square shoring device, the smallest of which is still bigger than our shoring.

 

Too many times we have seen Sewer and Water contractors or cities/towns have a hole dug with a backhoe or mini-hoe to go down and repair a water or sewer break. They don’t take the time to use a shoring device and send a man down into a earthen hole that could collapse at any point.

 

It’s going to be quick they say, forgetting that they are working with water or sewer which is also a liquid. Now what does earth and soil do when liquid hits it? It becomes soupy and unstable and prone to sliding. Ok that’s no problem we will put a human in this condition. He won’t be down there long anyway.

 It will be a quick fix. He can run to the end or jump if it starts sliding. He will have time. Trenches hardly cave-in anyway. Its only just over his head, we can easily get him out.

 

Unfortunately, humans are so set on saving a bit of money or saving a bit of time they take shortcuts. It only takes 1 time for everything to go drastically wrong and someone to have no more time. No more chances to save or take a shortcut. Is 1 human life worth sacrificing for your profit?

Are humans dispensable? Is saving a few bucks and losing Dad or Auntie or Big Bro worth it? Who really wins if a life is lost? Does anyone? It only causes suffering and pain and grief for the family and friends. It only causes grief and legal problems for the employer.

 And this problem isn’t something that happened like 10 years ago. This is happening today. In the USA alone, 15** people have died already in 2022, due to a trench collapses.* How many more happy family members could be at home safe today if proper precautions had been taken? 15 could.  

If you are new to the industry and are reading this don’t be scared to be that guy that speaks up and says he is not comfortable entering a trench with no protection. You won’t lose anything more than you could by going in and losing your life.  If you have 30 years in the industry and are reading this, just forget the “good ole days before safety ruined our lives” and be a good example to those you are training.

 How much simpler to take a few extra minutes and use a shoring device or proper sloping techniques if the ground is appropriate. EasyDig is aiming to make safe digging so easy that it doesn’t take extra time or resources. Imagine a shoring device you could toss in the back of your pickup? One you could move by hand.

 Wouldn’t you want to send one with each of your crews? We should almost just put a couple in every town on random street corners, so everyone everywhere always had access to a safe excavation.  

 

On to a lighter tone. There is the fact that we all know that a sewer and water main break makes a big mess. Mud and water and messy front lawns.

 Grumpy homeowners and irritated neighbors. Frustrated motorists and cyclists at the encroachment into their space, the road and sidewalk. Water spraying everywhere. Mud and gravel and sand tracked a block in either direction.

 

Nobody really enjoys them except the contractors. And even then, usually the guy that goes down into the hole does it because “it’s part of the job”.

 

So bring EasyDig Shoring to the jobsite. It enables you to make a 4ft hole with a hydrovac, no extra space needed to slope the sides of the trench, or room for a bucket to move. Hydrovacs are expensive you say? So is backfill for a large hole. So is human life. We have a Cost Comparison Blog releasing soon that shows the difference between a vac and a hoe.

Why not keep the homeowners, neighbours, and motorists happy? Downsize the space needed for equipment and don’t drive on the neighbours’ lawns with your backhoe. Rather cut a neat 4ft hole. Bring along a bit of grass seed. Finish up the excavation by filling in that small neat hole you made with a hydrovac and leave it nice and neat when you depart. Go the extra mile. Make everyone smile.

 

Even your employee will be smiling if he can go down the hole on a nice little ladder and not have mud glooping at him from everyone angle. Although we do know it will still be wet and muddy at the bottom, but EasyDig can make it easier.

Carmelle Isaac
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